Colo. judge enters not guilty plea for Holmes

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — The judge in the deadly Colorado movie theater shooting case entered a not guilty plea on behalf of James Holmes on Tuesday after the former graduate student’s defense team said he was not ready to enter one.

If Holmes is convicted, he could be executed or spend the rest of his life in prison. Judge William Sylvester said Holmes, 25, can change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity later, if he chooses.

Additional Photos

James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, Colo., in this In this July 23, 2012, photo. Holmes is charged with 166 counts, mostly murder and attempted murder, in the July 20 assault on moviegoers at a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, a Denver suburb. AP

Such a change could be the only way Holmes could avoid life in prison or execution.

Prosecutors, for their part, have not said yet whether they will pursue the death penalty, announcing Tuesday that they will make their decision known on April 1.

As he has done in past hearings, Holmes sat silently through Tuesday’s proceedings. He wore a red jail jumpsuit and sported a thick, bushy beard and unkempt dark brown hair.

When he walked into the courtroom, he looked at his parents, James and Arlene Holmes. They sat silently at the front of the room and left without comment after the hearing.

Holmes is charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in the July 20 attack at a suburban Denver movie theater that killed 12 people and injured 70.

In the nearly eight months since Holmes first shuffled into court with vacant eyes and reddish-orange hair, neither he nor his lawyers have said much about how he would plead.

Holmes’ lawyers repeatedly raised questions about his mental health, including a recent revelation that he was held in a psychiatric ward for several days last fall, often in restraints, because he was considered a danger to himself.

That raised the possibility that they could end up entering a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity at the hearing Tuesday. Holmes’ lawyers, however, said they were not ready to enter a plea.

The plea carries risk, however. Prosecutors would gain access to Holmes’ mental health records, which could help their case if the evidence of insanity is weak.

If Holmes does plead insanity, the proceedings would be prolonged further while he is evaluated by state mental health officials. With the judge entering the plea, prosecutors would not have access to Holmes’ health records.

During the hearing, defense attorney Daniel King said he could not advise Holmes on what plea to enter. He said the defense wasn’t ready despite previous delays — prompting prosecutors to object.

Sylvester asked King when Holmes might be ready to enter a plea.

“We could be ready by May 1. It may be June 1,” King said.

“So how am I supposed to make an informed decision?” Sylvester said before entering the not guilty plea. He said they defense can always petition to change the pleat to not guilty by reason of insanity.

At one point, in saying they weren’t ready to enter a plea, King said, “we have ongoing work scheduled. We’re doing the best that we can.” But he said he couldn’t reveal what the work was or say when it would be finished.

If a jury agrees he was insane, Holmes would be committed indefinitely to a state mental hospital. There would be a remote and unlikely chance he could be freed one day if doctors find his sanity has been restored.

Prosecutors laid out a case that Holmes methodically planned the shooting for months, amassing an arsenal and elaborately booby-trapping his apartment to kill anyone who tried to enter.

On the night of the attack, they say, he donned a police-style helmet, gas mask and body armor, tossed a gas canister into the seats and then opened fire.

Holmes is charged with 166 counts, mostly murder and attempted murder, in the assault on moviegoers at a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora.

The judge set Aug. 5 for the start of the trial. Prosecutors and defense attorneys declined comment.

Here at MaineToday Media we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion.

To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use. Click here to flag and report a comment that violates our terms of use.